Chapter 56

I'm sorry for the late update.

The most difficult initial part is over, so I think the update speed will gradually increase from now on.

Actually, thinking of the "There's a prince at Vrouhel Academy" part every time is quite a challenge. Laugh

Well, let's get the romantic plot moving in the third part!

"Oscar, it's fine up to here."

Cecilia turned around in front of the research building, her back to the tall structure, and smiled.

"Looks like I ended up getting you to escort me, thanks!"

"No, it's not a big deal. ...By the way, are you going to see Grace now?"

"Ah, yeah! I have something I want to ask her!"

Cecilia said brightly, and after a moment of thought, Oscar spoke.

"Cecil, can I come with you to hear what you want to ask?"

"Huh? Why?"

Cecilia widened her eyes and tilted her head.

Oscar, who seemed unprepared for her question, mumbled, "Well..." and looked down.

"Um... Sorry, Oscar! What I'm going to talk about with Grace is something I don't really want others to hear..."

"Is it something you don't want me to hear as well?"

"It is... Sorry?"

She bowed her head slightly with an apologetic look, and Oscar nodded, saying, "I see." However, his expression seemed a bit off, as if he had something stuck in his teeth.

(Oscar, what's wrong...?)

He's been acting a bit strange since a while ago. They've had their awkward moments before, but this feels different from any of those.

"Hey, Oscar..."

"I'll be going then."

"A, ...okay!"

Oscar said, cutting off Cecilia's words, and turned to leave. He looked down at her with a gentle gaze, as if looking at a younger sibling.

"Make sure to go home before it gets too late, okay?"

"Ah, yeah. Thanks! But I'll be fine!"

"Where does that strange confidence of yours come from..."

Oscar narrowed his eyes in exasperation, and Cecilia blushed, then tapped her chest.

"Well, I didn't train for nothing! If any weirdos come, I'll take them down!"

"You, really..."

"Besides, Gil is supposed to come and pick me up too!"

"......I see."

After a strange pause, he nodded and turned to leave.

Cecilia watched his departing back, a question mark forming in her mind.

(Oscar seemed like he wanted to say something... Could he be suspicious of me?)

She thought so, but couldn't figure out what he might be suspicious about. She wondered if her disguise had been discovered, but since they had already gotten through the summer cottage, which had the highest chance of being found out, it seemed unlikely. That was her conclusion.

(Well, there's no point in thinking about things I don't understand!)

Not thinking about things that were pointless to think about was both her strength and her weakness.

Cecilia turned her back to the departing Oscar and looked up at the research building.

Unaware that Oscar was looking back at her, she took a step into the building where Grace was likely to be.

..◆◇◆

"...So, I wanted to ask Grace what to do!"

"Then, becoming a Miko is the best solution, isn't it?"

Cecilia slumped at Grace's blunt response. Grace was always busy with her research, and her hands were constantly working on something, never looking directly at Cecilia.

The reason Cecilia came to see Grace—

Of course, it was to consult with her, who had cleared all the routes, about what to do next.

With the three Miko candidates all unwilling to become a Miko, and Cecilia holding one of Gilbert's treasures, she was the closest to becoming a Miko, which meant a DEAD END awaited her.

Cecilia lifted her face defiantly and confronted Grace again.

"No, that's the problem! It puts my life in danger!"

"That's in the game, right? The scenario has already deviated so much. Even if you become a Miko from here, the story might not unfold the same way."

"That's true, but there's no guarantee that the story will change just because we say it will, right?"

"Well, ...that's true."

Grace finally looked at Cecilia after a sigh, her face still annoyed, but she seemed willing to listen.

She pointed a finger at Cecilia's nose.

"First, tell me a specific, immediate goal. 'Not wanting to become a Miko' or 'not wanting to die' are final goals, right? Vague goals like that make it hard for me to give advice."

"An immediate goal?"

"Yes. Give me a specific goal towards your final goal. We can talk from there."

Cecilia furrowed her brow at the scientist's logical approach.

After thinking for a while, she opened her mouth hesitantly.

"Is it okay to ask even if it's a long shot?"

"I'll listen."

"I want to do something about the 'hindrance'..."

This was something she had been thinking about for a while.

If she didn't want to become a Miko, she had to eliminate the root cause of what made a Miko a Miko.

However, eliminating something whose nature was unknown—whether it was organic or inorganic, living or dead—seemed impossible to Cecilia. So she asked, thinking it was a long shot.

"That's easy."

"Huh?"

Cecilia blinked, expecting to be turned down.

"Then, you just need to enter the True Route."

"The True Route...?"

"That should take care of the 'hindrance.'"

She said this with a confident smile.

The second volume of the manga is on sale on December 28th! (I'm persistent, huh? w)

Please look forward to both the manga and the novel.